10 years of resistance: an event about a decade of human rights violations in the occupied Crimea takes place in Brussels

Human Rights House Crimea and its 4 member-organizationsin cooperation with Mission of Ukraine to the European Union and Crimea SOS holds an event “10 years of resistance. Violation of human rights and international humanitarian law in the temporarily occupied Crimea” in the European Committee of the Regions on February 26 at 10:00 CET. It is organized with support of Ukraine 5 AM Coalition and Human Rights House Foundation.

Russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine began in February 2014 with the military invasion of the Russian Armed Forces aiming to capture part of the Ukrainian territory – the Crimean peninsula.

Today, the peninsula remains de-facto controlled by the Russian Federation. It has turned into an open-air prison where residents live in constant risk of being persecuted for resisting the occupying “power”, supporting Ukraine or simply combining blue and yellow colors. 

10 years of living in a disinformation bubble. 10 years of inability to convey the truth about the realities of life in the occupation to the outside world. 10 years of not seeing politically persecuted or abducted relatives. 10 years of indoctrination, erasure of national identity, deportation, slaughter. 10 years of militarization and forced conscription.

The Russian Federation not only destroys Crimea from the inside and uses it as a “laboratory” for testing grave human rights violations and a base for launching a full-scale invasion of Ukraine but also poses a threat to the Black Sea region and the global order. It disrupts freedom of navigation, sabotages food security, intensifies hybrid warfare and empowers dictatorships around the world. 

However, a decade of oppression and persecution did not destroy human faith and democratic values. Residents of Crimea stand steadfastly, transforming 10 years of suffering into 10 years of resistance.

At the event, experts will discuss:

• Summarized story of the human rights violations within 10 years of the occupation;
• Application of the previously “tested” human rights violations in Crimea on the territory of newly occupied regions of Ukraine;
• Stories of the public indomitability and resistance to the occupation regime;
• Recommendations to the international community.

Opening remarks:

• Ms Emine Dzhaparova, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine (pre-recorded)
• Ms Anna Fotyga, Member of the European Parliament
• Ms Olga Kuryshko, Deputy Permanent Representative of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea
• Ambassador Vsevolod Chentsov, Head of the Mission of Ukraine to the European Union

Speakers:

• Ms Tetiana Zhukova, Human Rights Centre ZMINA
• Ms Sabina Ilias, Crimea SOS
• Ms Iryna Baran, Crimean Human Rights Group
• Ms Mariia Sulialina, Centre of Civic Education “Almenda”
• Ms Daryna Pidhorna, Regional Center for Human Rights

Moderator: Ms Nora Wehofsits, Human Rights House Foundation

An exhibition U(CRIME)A and a short film about Crimea will also be presented during the event.

Participation is subject to prior registration until February 22, 2024.

Contact person for the registration and details: Tetiana Zhukova, Human Rights Centre ZMINA, tz@zmina.ua